"Percy had been to the zoo with his class from school. It was the usual end of year trip and the teachers had decided that it would be both fun and educational. The children could learn all about the animals whilst enjoying the open air and they could do some projects on the animals they had seen when they returned to school after the summer recess.
Percy was a lovely young lad, easily led by his peers but lots of fun and a very likeable child in many ways. His mother was very understanding of his mischievous streak but she did her best whilst her husband was away serving his country. Percey was proud of his dad and wanted to be just like him when he grew up.
There had been a lot of giggling on the coach back home but the teachers had not seen anything to worry about and they knew that the boys were all good pals and did behave silly when together - perhaps they were laughing about the antics of some of the animals they had seen.
The coach pulled up outside school right on time and there were several mothers waiting for their offspring, including Mrs Bunt, Percy's mother. Mrs Bunt was glad to have her son back in one piece as she had been worried he might fall into some pit with an animal or something and so she hurried him along to the waiting car.
It wasn't until they got home that she noticed the knapsack he had taken was moving on its own! What have you got in there, she asked.
"It's a present for you mum" replied young Percy. "All the other kids were buying presents for their mums to take home but I thought you would like one of the exotic birds" he said as he pulled a rather bewildered looking bird from his knapsack.
(sorry its a bit skewift)
"Oh Percy", said Mrs Bunt, what am I going to do with you, you are going to be in big trouble, in fact sometimes I despair, you can be trouble with a capital T at times."
Percy looked at her with his big eyes and said "I'm not trouble just a challenge".
This is based on a story I was told when I went as a representative of the Girl Guides (Girl Scouts in America) in the UK, to an International camp in Denmark, many many moons ago. Now how true it was I have no idea but the (mature) lady who told it was a teacher from the north east and I had no reason to disbelieve her. I have heard it as a funny story since so who knows?
I am entering this into Art Journal Journey where the challenge this month is "Birds" as set for us by Matilde who hails from Poland. You can see her work here and I am sure you will love her inspiration page as much as I do.
